The stag couchant regardant (lying down and looking backwards) is the main element of the former civic arms for the county

, the regal beast recalling the royal nature of Ettrick Forest – the alternative name for the county. The stag also appears therefore in Philip Tibbetts’s proposal for this county, atop a white Scottish saltire comprised of overlapping bands, emblematic of the county’s significant weaving industry, located notably in towns such as Galashiels and Selkirk. The green field continues the reference to the forests and the overall green, white, maroon colour scheme reflects that of the civic arms.